Football game apparatus



March 17, 1942. H. A. TASSANO I 2,276,599

FOOTBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed April 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FfiE-l- 7 ND! ONE QUARTER scene 20 /9 Ag cam/mag 91m] naamg IO Z0 Z5 30 24 SNMOG EFENSE 6-2-2-1 FENSE 28 OFFENSE KICK O LATERAL INVENTOR. HENRY A. .7Z1ssA/vo March 1942. H. A. TASSANO FOOTBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed April 28, 1941 Z Sheets-Sheet 2 RM mA A WT A v. R M H ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1942 UNETED STATE orrlcs Claims.

My present invention relates to an improved game apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus by which a game of football may be played in accordance with the standard rules of the game.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved game board upon which the game of football can be realistically reproduced and upon which there is provided manually operated means by which the plays and defenses may be determined and run off in a manner closely simulating that of an actual game.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for the playing of a game of football which, during the course of a game, will reproduce all plays possible with approximately the same frequency and probability of occurrence of the plays as in an actual game.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel game apparatus in which the element of chance is utilized for the determination ofgains and losses with respect to the various plays as selected by the opposing players during the course of a game.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part evident to those skilled in the art and in part pointed out hereinafter in the detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation a preferred embodiment.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred form of the game board in its entirety,

Figure 2 shows a detail of construction, and

Figure 3 is a plan view showing a portion of the game board illustrated in Figure 1.

Before describing the structural features of my improved game apparatus, it should be pointed out that in addition to the board illustrated in the drawings, my game contemplates the use of a suitable chance controlled means (not shown) for determining the yards gained or lost by the respective sides during the playing of a game. A preferred form of chance device contemplates four dice in which pairs of the dice have a distinguishing characteristic. For example, it is found that two large dice and two smaller dice provide a proper distinction. As an alternative,

two of the dice may be of one color and the other two dice of a different color. In the description to follow, two of these dice will be referred to as large or colored, and the other two dice will be referred to as small or white. Normally, the two colored dice will be used at the start of the game; as at the kick off, in the case of an intercepted pass, and where a lateral pass occurs during the game; all as will hereinafter appear. During other periods of the game, only one of the large or colored dice will be used with the two small or white dice. The use of the dice and the manner in which they are associated with the game apparatus illustrated will be more clearly pointed out hereinafter in connection with certain examples of play as they occur during the course of a game.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the game apparatus contemplates a relatively large rectangular base forming member l0 that preferably has a raised centrally disposed and transversely extending central portion H upon which there is outlined a football playing field I2 with yard lines marked thereupon. This raised surface H is also provided with a slot 93 in which there is slidably attached a miniature football I4. I Extending along one side of the playing field, there is also a second slot l5 that provides a mounting for the customary ten yard marking line, designated by the numeral i6. At one end of the football field l2, there is also provided a suitable spinner device I! having a pointer it that is adapted to spin thereover. This spinner device I"! carries the designations Defense and Offense alternately arranged throughout its circumference and is adapted to be used to determine which side is to be awarded doubtful decisions, as for example, the recovery of fumbles, blocked kicks, and penalties for various infractions of the rules. At each side of the elevated portion ll of the game board Ill and in opposed relation, there is arranged a series of indicating discs I9 that cooperate with apertures 20 and 2| to indicate the score accumulated by each of the teams. At another point along the edges of the elevated portion ll, there are additional indicating discs 22 and 23 that 00- operate with apertures 24 and 25 to respectively indicate the downs and quarters of the game, all as will be understood by those skilled in the game of football. At each side of the transversely extending central portion l l, the game board carries a chart upon which there is arranged in asymmetrical relation certain indicia that is related to the nature of each particular play and defense possible during the playing of a game. One of these charts, designated by the numeral 26, is shown at the bottom of Figure l of the drawings, and the other, designated by the numeral 21, is shown at the top of Figure 1. At the left-hand ends of thecharts 26' and 21 there is arranged three numbered squares which, as will hereinafter appear, relate to three distinct types of defense that may be resorted to in order to meet and, if possible, defeat any particular play initiated by the player in whose possession the ball is at the time, this particular player being designated hereinafter as the offense. At their right-hand ends the charts 26 and 21 carry indicia characteristic of the particular plays that may be initiated by the offense. At this point it will be noted that the charts 26 and 2! are arranged so that they will be legible by players sitting opposite each other at the ends of the game board Hi. Each of the charts 25 and 2? is provided with identical indicia and as a result each of the players need only confine his attention to the playing field and the particular chart at his end of the game board. Extending along the left-hand side of the game board I and supported by the elevated. portion I I there is shown a slidably mounted member 28 that may be moved back and forth to carry pointers 29 and 30 secured upon the ends thereof into register with one or the other of the three defense indicating numerals provided adjacent thereto upon the charts 26 and 27. This movable member 28 is adapted to be alternately operated by the players as possession of the ball changes hands. At the other side of the game board Hi there is also a similar slidably mounted member 3! that carries pointers 32 and 33 which register with a number of different offense play indicating indicia. This member BI is adapted to be operated by the offense, i. e., the player having possession of the ball at the particular time. At this point it should be noted that the defense and offense play indicating indicia is arranged upon the charts 26 and 2'! in an asymmetrical manner so that when the pointers 29 and 3!! are moved, they will register with corresponding defense indicating numerals, and the pointers 32 and 33 Will register with corresponding offense indicating plays. In this manner, it will be possible for either of the players to determine a particular ofiense or defense play upon his particular chart and at the same time establish a corresponding indication upon the chart of his opponent and, as a result, each player can limit his attention to the particular chart at his end of the game board.

As a further novel feature of the invention, and one which insures that each player can limit his attention to his particular chart, resides in the provision of means that will audibly indicate when one or the other of the slidable members 28 or 3! is moved. As shown, this audible indicating means comprises a series of vertically extending pins 34 that are arranged in the pathof flexible reeds 35 and 36 which are provided upon the pointers 29 and 39 of the slidable member 28. These pins 34 are positioned at points corresponding to the limits of the three numbered defense squares at the left-hand side of the charts 26 and 21 so that when the indicating pointers 29 and 3B are moved from one square to the other, these vibrating reeds 35 and 36 will snap thereover and produce an audible sound. At the other side of the charts 26 and 2'! there is provided a series of vertically extending pins 31 with which similar flexible reeds 38 and 39 cooperate. trated in Figure 2 of the drawings, are positioned at points corresponding to the limits of the particular play designating indicia so that any move The pins 31, as is mor clearly illus-.

ment of the pointers 32 and 33 will be audibly indicated by a snapping and or vibrating of the flexible reeds 38 and 33 as they pass over the pins 31. The object of this audible or sound indicating means in connection with the pointers 29-30 and 3233 is to prevent any illegal or surreptitious movement of the pointer carrying members 28 and 29 that is not in accordance with the rules of the game.

Upon referring to Figure 3, which is an enlarged view of the chart 26 shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that in addition to the three defense indicating squares at the left-hand edge thereof and the several ofiense play designations at the right-hand edge thereof, this chart also includes three vertically arranged defense columns that correspond with the three defense positions at the left-hand margin thereof. Each of these defense columns includes six possibilities which may occur with respect to each of the offense plays designated in the righthand column. At the bottom of this chart there is also provided certain indicia with respect to particular plays, such as on the kick off, in the case of a lateral pass, and where an intercepted pass is returned by the defense. This latter data includes eleven possibilities for each event and is dependent upon the sum total of the number taken by the throwing of two of the dice. These possibilities are numbered from two totwelve inclusive, as two is the lowest possible number that can be thrown by two dice and twelve is the highest possible number. In the case of the defense possibilities, which are limited to only six, it should be pointed out that for determining these possibilities only one of the dice is used. It will also be understood from the above that the chart 2'! is identical with the chart here illustrated, except for the arrangement of the defense and offense designating indicia which, as has been pointed out above, are arranged asymmetrically with respect to each other on the two charts.

The operation of my improved game'apparatus and the manner in which the several indicia carried by the charts 25 and 2'! are associated with the player operated indicating pointers can best be explained in connection with the playing of a simulated game. For this purpose it will be assumed that the players are seated opposite each other at the game board, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and that four red dice and two small white dice are available. At this point the question as to which of the parties will assume the offense and which the defense can be determined by the flip of a coin, as is the practice in an actual game, or the two players may each throw one red dice and the decision will go to the party casting the highest number. With this decided, the winning party can then elect as to whether he will kick or receive the ball. It will be assumed that the party winning this toss has elected to kick the ball and to determine the yardage of the kick, this player will then roll the two large red dice and one small white die, and the defense player will simultaneously roll the remaining small White die.

forty-four yards ,plus offense and is returned two times the value of the defense die. From this it can be determined that the total yardage of the kick off will equalforty-four plus three or forty-seven yards less ten yards, which is two times the value of the defense die, which has been assumed as a five, and as a result the total yardage gained will be forty-seven yards less ten yards, or an actual distance of thirtyseven yards for the kick off. At the termination of this play, it will of course be understood that the possession of the ball will change hands and thus be in the possession of the defense, who will immediately be placed on the offense due to this transfer of possession of the ball. The football 14, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, will then be placed on the thirty-seven yard line measured outwardly from the goal post chosen by the party kicking off. The game will then proceed in the usual manner with the offense electing by pushing the movable rod-3| to any one of the particular plays designated in the offense column. At this point it will be seen that time has been consumed in determining the particular yardage for the kick off and this time will correspond generally to that usually required by an actual team when determining the next play, as during a time when the team gathers in the so-called huddle. Then, when the offense player is ready, he will give a signal by calling Signals on, after which he will pause for a period of one second and call out the word Hike and simultaneously move his indicating pointer to the particular play which he has chosen. In order to make more realistic this particular play, the rules provide that in the event of a failure to pause for a full second between the words Signals on and Hike, the offense player will be penalized five yards for back field in motion. This pause is to give the defense player some time in which to anticipate the play and set up a proper defense. In actual play, it is contemplated that each of the players will select his play and/or defense simultaneously. As a counterpart for the penalty of five yards for back field in motion, the rules of the game also provide for a penalty in the event that either of the parties moves his game or defense selector more than two seconds after the calling of the word Hike by the player on offense. The penalty in this instance is five yards for off side.

Now, if it is assumed, as noted above, that the ball is on the thirty-seven yard line as a result of the kick off, and that the player on offense has selected a reverse as his next play and the defense player has chosen No. 1 as his defense, and on the roll of the dice by the two parties, the colored dice thrown by this player is three and that thrown by the defense is one, then, by looking in column 2 of defense 1 in the line corresponding to the reverse play, it will be noted that it indicates a loss amounting to the yardage indicated by both small white dice. Therefore, since the offense has rolled a three with his small white die and the defense has rolled a one with his small white die, it will be understood that the loss will be four yards from the point of play. In other words, the ball will now be set back four yards from the thirty-seven yard line, where it was at the time this play was initiated. In this manner an entire game of any length, depending upon the time decided upon for the quarters, may be played by following through the losses, gains and other events as they are indicated in the three defense columns under the several numerals which will correspond to the number thrown by the red dice. Where a, fumble is indicated upon this chart, the players will refer to the spinning device [1, which the offense player will spin to determine who has recovered the fumble. In the case of penalties, the offense player will likewise refer to the spinning device H to determine who shall have the privilege of either accepting a penalty or playing the ball with the loss of a down, whichever is to his advantage. In the case of a blocked kick, the offense player will likewise refer to the spinner and the player recovering the ball will then continue to play in accordance with the rules, as outlined above. In case the chart indicates an intercepted pass for a particular play and corresponding defense, the play will proceed as in the case of a kick off and the result will be found at the bottom of the chart in the line corresponding to intercepted pass returned. In this event, the player intercepting the pass automatically becomes the offense and, as in the case of the kick off, he will roll two colored, dice and one white die, and the other or defense player will roll one white die. Then, the yardage gained or lost by the pass interception will be determined, as. indicated in the column under the number thrown by the two colored dice. In the case of punt returns, the same procedure will be followed as in the case of intercepted passes. Where a lateral play is indicated, the procedure will also be similar to that in the case of the kick ofi; i. e., the offense player will throw two red dice and each player will throw one of the smaller white dice. The loss or gain in this event will-be indicated in the column under the number corresponding to the number thrown by the two red dice, while the other numbers in the particular square of the column will refer to the effect to be given to the small white dice thrown by the offense and defense. In addition to the several offense plays indicated by the charts 25 and 2f, there is also the possibility of a field goal, which may be attempted when the offense is on or within the thirty yard line, or the goal toward which he is moving the ball.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose the invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated specific devices and arrangements, I desire to have it understood that the invention is not limited to the particular arrangement of the indicia. For example, the charts 26 and 2'! may be provided with any other arrangement of the particular plays and results noted thereupon. It is believed that this invention is new and all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a game apparatus of the character having a rectangular playing board adapted to be placed between two players and provided with a transversely extending central portion defining a playing field, the combination of a play indicating chart extending along each side of said transversely extending central portion and adapted to be used by the corresponding player, said play indicating charts having similar play indicating indicia, arranged thereupon asymmetrically with respect to each other, a supporting means at one end of said transversely extending central portion, and a member slidably mounted upon said supporting means having a pointer at each end adapted to cooperate with said play indicating indicia and simultaneously indicate corresponding plays upon each of said indicating charts, whereby each of the players will be apprised of the play of his opponent by the position of the corresponding one of said pointers upon his particular play indicating chart.

2. Ina football game of the character having a transversely extending central portion defining a playing field, the combination of an offense and defense indicating chart extending along each side of said transversely extending playing field, the oifense and defense indicating indicia upon one of said charts being arranged asymmetrically with respect to the offense and defense indicating indicia upon the other of said charts, a member movable across one end of said transversely extending central portion having pointers adapted to simultaneously indicate a similar offense upon each of said offense indicating charts, a second member movable across the other end of said transversely extending central portion having pointers adapted to simultaneously indicate a similar defense upon each of said defense indicating charts, whereby each of the players will be apprised of the offense and defense of his opponent by the position of one or the other of said pointers upon his particular offense and defense indicating chart.

3. In a football game apparatus of the character having a rectangular playing board adapted to be positioned between two plyers, the combination of a board having a raised transversely extending central portion defining a playing field and forming a support for an indicating member, a play indicating chart for each player disposed at a lower level at each side of said raised transversely extending playing field defining portion, each chart having similar play indicating indicia arranged thereupon asymmetrically with respect to each other, and a member slidably supported upon said raised transversely extending central portion having a pointer at each of its ends cooperating with a corresponding one of said play indicating charts and adapted to simultaneously indicate similar plays upon each of said play indicating charts, whereby upon movement of saidmember each player will be apprised of the play of his opponent by the position of the one of said pointers upon his particular play indicating chart.

4. In a football game apparatus of the character having a rectangular playing board adapted to be positionedv between two players, the combination of a board having a central transversely extending portion with oppositely disposed play indicating charts extending along each side thereof, each of said play indicating charts having similar play indicating indicia arranged thereupon asymmetrically with respect to the corresponding play indicating indicia upon the other of said charts, means having pointers adapted to cooperate with the indicia upon each of said charts, a support for said means, whereby it maybe moved to bring its pointers into register with corresponding indicia upon each of said play indicating charts, and means cooperating with said pointers adapted to audibly indicate I any movement of said means after said pointers have been brought into register with any particular play indicating indicia upon said charts;

5. In a football game apparatus of the character having a rectangular playing board adapted to be positioned between two players, the combitween said play indicating charts, means slidably mounted upon said support and having pointer carrying heads at its ends adapted to move over said charts, a vibratable sound producing pointer extending outwardly from each of said heads and adapted to register with corresponding indicia upon each of said charts, and vertically extending pins defining the limits of the diiferent indicia upon said charts and engageable by said vibratable sound producing pointers, whereby any movement of said slidable member sufiicient to move said pointers from one to another play indicating indicia will be audibly indicated by a vibration of said vibratable pointers.

HENRY A. TASS-ANO. 

